Thanks to George Hayes from Ikitesurf.com for bringing this to our attention! The international community's response to the potential ban in Hawaii two weeks ago was tremendously helpful --l et's help them out either further....officials are trying to limit schools to two instructors only!

For easy cut-and-paste into your email program/page, here are the email addresses for the Maui Mayor Tavares, Parks Director Horcajo, State Senator Tsutsui, the Deputy Parks Director Helm, two leading decision-makers at Maui County, and two active windsurf/kite industry leaders:

The testimony could be sent before 5pm HI time Tuesday February 26, 2008 (prior to the next meeting), but it will still be effective as long as it is sent prior to April 8, 2008.

II. COMMENT LETTERThe following statement originally written by David and Suzie Dorn (of Action Sports Maui) has been edited (by me) a fair amount and now can simply be copied and pasted as a public-comment email. Writing your own, or at least adding a quick 1 or 2-sentence paragraph at the start to personalize your public comment will make your contribution to this cause far more effective. But if you are pressed for time, do your copy & paste and just send it!:

A word from Alan Cadiz of HST Maui: We are working hard to maintain your access to quality, affordable lessons here on Maui. Unfortunately, the proposed rules go too far and are a seismic threat to the viability of watersports instruction businesses. Your support and positive comments about the status quo at Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, would be invaluable at this time.

*SIGNATURE: Please "sign" this email with your full name and full mailing address.*EMAIL SUBJECT: Please protect watersports schools on Maui

To Honorable Mayor Tavares, Parks Director Horcajo, Senator Tsutsui,and all decision-makers who are witness to this testimony,

The Maui County Parks Department's new rules could force most of the existing watersports schools out of business. Surf, windsurf, kitesurf, scuba, snorkel, and kayak schools and instructors are all at risk.

Please do not enact these overly-restrictive regulations because they would harm local individuals and families living and doing business on Maui (many for several decades). Also, the regulations would strongly discourage many forms of healthy recreation on the island -- something that our health professionals all agree we need more of, not less.

Surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, scuba diving, kayaking, and snorkeling. These are healthy activities enjoyed by Hawaiian families and visitors alike. These activities lead to healthy lifestyles based on outdoor activity and physical exercise.

The new rules proposed by the Parks Director are so restrictive that they pose an imminent threat to the watersports schools. These school operators need a County issued permit called an ORAP: Ocean Recreation Activity Permit. The County's new requirements are effectively impossible for watersports schools to comply with.

Just one example is Proposed Rule 10-102-22 which would prohibit schools from having more than two instructors working at one time. This will eliminate most group lessons, including kids camps and high-school programs, and would make all kinds of lessons less available to students. This would likely put the vast majority of watersports instructors out of work, and many schools may go out of business.

Many of these schools are family-owned small businesses which employ numerous local instructors and staff. These schools provide important lessons on water safety and ocean awareness. Most of these schools have been serving the community for a decade or more, without any problems. Kanaha Beach Park is one of the key locations where these important classes take place.

These watersports schools provide instruction to local families, high school, and elementary school groups. Watersports education teaches the students to respect the ocean and gives them fundamental and necessary skills.

Beginners entering the ocean for the first time are the most vulnerable group of ocean users. They require guidance. With some fundamental instruction they begin to develop a sense of safety in the ocean. This is a benefit to all the water users. ORAP Schools provide an important safety net for inexperienced ocean users and as such they provide an important service for our community.

Please do not enact these new regulations because they would have harmful effects on: public health, the lives of a large number of hard-working citizens, and the local economy.

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